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pablo42 Offline OP
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Central Hotel and clock tower, no date

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I remember it looking like that.

http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/A81497983

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Edward VII memorial clock tower, Clifton Crescent, Birkenhead, Wirral

Isolated and forlorn, this Grade II listed building is situated on a raised grassy triangular plot of land near Birkenhead town centre. Traffic on the fly-over rush past it just metres away on their way to Birkenhead Tunnel. Even on the ground traffic users don't have time to notice this clock tower as they enter a busy round about system. While pedestrians have to be mindful crossing the various roads to notice the tower as it is over shadowed by the imposing fly-over.

This overlooked clock tower is a memorial to the reign of Edward VII (22/1/1901 - 6/5/1910). The tower is roughly 40 to 50 feet in height from it's base and is made from Portland stone (creamy white in colour). The description from the Heritage gateway website states that it has a stepped base to a square rusticated plinth, which seems to mean that the plinth is made to look like large bricks. The plinth on it's four sides has a profile of Edward VII, a relief of the royal coat of arms, the inscription "King Edward VII A.D. 1901 - 1910 Erected by public subscriptions. Arthur W. Willmer mayor A.D. 1911.". The final side has a narrow doorway giving access to an internal stairway, presumably to the clock mechanism. On the main column are four lions in each corner and eight Doric fluted shafts supporting the clock housing. The housing is an elaborate piece of masonry with four clock faces beneath a dome finished with a carving of the Sovereign's orb as its pinnacle.

The overall look of the memorial could be described as classical in style. There is a small amount of graffiti on the plinth. While the plinth and main column are clean, the clock housing looks rather grimy. When the tower was built it was located in front of Birkenhead Central station, a picture taken in 1903 in A century of Birkenhead & Wirral Events (2007) shows the tower in the background. While a picture in Wirral Chronicles volume 1 has a picture from 1938 showing the tower in a different location (its present). It seems that it was moved 50 meters, but for what reason? The nearby flyover was built after 1965. (http://www.tunnelusers.org.uk/history.htm)

On the parcel of land on which it sits on are some disused and locked subterranean public conveniences. Sometimes youths can be seen congregated around the tower, but access is limited to the Central Hotel side of the island.

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Originally Posted by pablo42
Central Hotel and clock tower, no date


Could be mid 1960's. That looks like Rolf Harris doing his best Jake the Peg impression (bottom left of picture)!


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Originally Posted by Geekus
Originally Posted by pablo42
Central Hotel and clock tower, no date


Could be mid 1960's. That looks like Rolf Harris doing his best Jake the Peg impression (bottom left of picture)!

raftl Well spotted Geekus !

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says here, http://www.tunnelusers.org.uk/history.htm about 1965 they started building flyovers. he could be doing a survey?


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recon jake the peg was checkin how far out of plumb that lamp post is before it leans that far it fall over


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photo was taken prior to the 42 hour week as its showing 4-30 on the clock so must have been in the days of 5 o'clock finish


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does anyone remember when the clock was moved to there i remember it being over towards central station diana 45

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It could only have been moved to accommodate the flyovers, if it was it would be around 1966 ish.


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Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


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I think it was moved 1914 ish?
I know it's in the same place as in the 1950s

Last edited by derekdwc; 3rd Apr 2012 9:54pm.
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According to most sources it was moved in 1929 to improve access from Argyle Street to the first Mersey Road Tunnel that was then under construction.

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I just have this niggle in my head that the clock may have been moved a few feet in the sixties, I certainly remember scaffolding being around it, It may have just appeared so when the landscaping was going on around it.


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It was moved in the 60s so that they could get the line they required for the flyover and run of the current road set up arround that area


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Not one mention of the toilets??

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Originally Posted by Helles
Not one mention of the toilets??


I guess that because they were underground they wouldn't need to move them. (There, at least now they've been mentioned). grin


Carpe diem.
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